ASHRAE recently announced the publication of the 2013 editions of its two major refrigerant standards: ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34, Designation and Safety Classification of Refrigerants, and ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15, Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems.
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The 2013 version of Standard 34 contains 36 published addenda to the 2010 version. Among the key changes are:
• Designations and safety classifications for one new single-compound refrigerant and 14 new refrigerant blends.
• New concentration limits for 19 refrigerants.
• New flammability safety classifications for four refrigerants.
• The assignment of toxicity code classifications for 18 refrigerants.
• Clarification of the methodology for conducting flammability tests and determining fractionated compositions for flammability tests.
• An updated methodology for calculating heat of combustion for refrigerant blends.
• The requirement that evidence of the existence of an azeotropic blend be provided with requests for an R-500 series designation.
• The addition of bubble-point and dew-point definitions and test conditions, clarified applicant documentation requirements related to GLP compliance, and critical pressure data and specific volume-calculation methodology for applicant submissions.
The 2013 version of Standard 15 contains five published addenda to the 2010 version. Key changes include:
• Clarified location requirements for machinery-room mechanical ventilation.
• The clarification that design pressure is expressed in terms of relative pressure or gauge pressure, not absolute pressure.
• The addition of wording intended to ensure the standard more closely harmonizes with Section 1101.10 of the 2012 International Mechanical Code.
Standard 34-2013 and Standard 15-2013 are sold together. The cost is $89 for ASHRAE members and $107 for non-members. Copies can be ordered by phone at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400, by fax at 678-539-2129, or online at www.ashrae.org/bookstore.